Montana FWP puts mandatory trapper education on pause

HELENA – Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks said Tuesday that trapper education will not be mandatory for the 2018/2019 trapping season.

The decision to not move forward with implementing a new mandatory trapper education program came last week after questions arose about whether the Fish and Wildlife Commission has a clear direction to implement the program.

The Commission approved a package of trapping requirements at its meeting last August. The package included equipment modifications and mandatory trapper education.

However, as the department worked to implement the education program, some questions arose as to whether the commission was the appropriate venue to bring forward the question of mandatory trapper education.

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The agency said they will continue to work with the trapping community, staff and legislators to ensure the tradition of humane and ethical trapping in Montana continues.